In Summary
- Castro Was playing a game of cards with two of his friends when attacked by police
- Three other patients recovering at the Hospital’s HDU following successful surgery
Police in Kisumu are facing intense scrutiny following allegations that they shot a 19-year-old student nine times during the ongoing antigovernment protests in the Country.
Medics at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital revealed shocking X-ray scans of the victim, identified as Fidel Castro, which showed nine bullets lodged in his chest and arms. Three other patients with bullet wounds have also been admitted to the hospital.
Castro, a form four student at Olembo Boys Secondary School, recounted his harrowing near-death experience at the hands of the police while lying in excruciating pain.
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“Mmoja akanipiga kwa mgongo,akarudia,akarudia tena…alikuwa anataka nianguke chini,”
he said.
According to him, a group of police officers stormed their Nyamasaria estate and found him and two friends playing a game of cards. Without warning, the police allegedly opened fire, leaving him with multiple gunshot wounds.
“Nashukuru niko salama sahii..walinipiga mabullets nine kwa mgongo…naskia vibaya sana..naomba mnisaidie,”
The Hospital disclosed that they received a total of 14 gunshot victims on a single Wednesday last week, indicating a disturbing escalation in police violence. Most of the victims had bullets lodged in critical areas such as their chests, backs, arms, and legs.
Despite the gravity of the allegations and the growing number of victims, the police have yet to issue any official statement regarding the incident.
Resumption of Protests
In response to these reports of police brutality against peaceful protesters, the Azimio La Umoja coalition has condemned the actions of law enforcement and called on the International Criminal Court to intervene.
Political leaders, including Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, have also voiced their condemnation of the police’s conduct during the demonstrations.
Kalonzo said this while announcing the resumption of demos next week on Wednesday.
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“We, therefore, have reached a conclusion on peaceful, and we stress peaceful and unarmed demonstrations,”he said.
Azimio Blogger Pauline Njoroge Arrested
Meanwhile, the government has been intensifying its arrests of opposition leaders. Recently, police apprehended Azimio La Umoja coalition blogger, Pauline Njoroge, from Kilifi County, on allegations of drug possession.
“At around 1630 hours, officers from DCI Kilifi county while tracing for one Pauline Njoroge, intercepted a motor vehicle along Watamu Jacaranda road and upon search from the vehicle, four rolls of dry plant material suspected to be narcotic drugs were recovered,”
a police report read in part.
This arrest comes amid a series of arrests and charges against several members of Parliament, including Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, involved in the ongoing protests.“
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